Heat insulating pad



L. McKl'r-rRlcK 2,047,517

HEAT INSULATING PAD July 14, 1936.

Filed March 4, 1935 INVENT'OR Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES vPATENT QFFICEI naar msULAmG PAD mammal-ick, mangues, cam. Appueauon March 4, 1935, serial No. 9,242 4 claims. `(c1. 6 5-61) 'I'his invention relates to a pad adapted to be placed between hot dishes and a table top, to protect the table top from the heat of the dishes.

Such pads are now in common use, and usually 5 comprise a flat member made from heat insulation material such as felt or asbestos, or a combination of superimposedq layers of this type of material. The hot dish in this well-known form, is merely placed upon the pad. 'I'he hot dish however, may be a large platter, a smallplate, or a percolator or tea pot, having different areas of contact. Accordingly, pads of this well-known type are usually made in a number of sizes, and

' the housewife usually requires an ample range.

of sizes of'pads.

Of course, several smaller pads could be used, spread about over the table top, to accommodate a large dish; but such an arrangement is obviously not very effective. The dish can readily slide off the pads; and, even when an adequately large pad is used, there is always danger that in moving-the dish around on the table, the pad will be forgotten, and the dish will bel placed directly on the table top. It ins one of the objects of this invention to ob- 1 viate these disadvantages, and particularly by ensuring that once a pad or pads are used with a dish, the pad or pads remain in place on the bottom of the dish.

This result is accomplished by providing a device whereby the pad is detachably adhered to the dish, so that wherever the dish is moved, the pad stays thereon.

It is another object of thisinvention, there-l fore, to furnish a pad having provisions for ready attachment and removal thereof with respect to the dish.

When so arranged, a pad of this character can beused with a small dish, orl several small pads 40 can be used with a larger dish, with the assurance that the table will always be adequately shielded against injury and without danger of displacement between the pad and -the dish.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may bemade more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown several forms in the drawing accompanying and forming part ofthe present specification. These forms shall now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention 5 is best dennen by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing: v

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a pad embodying the invention, shown as in cooperative relation with the bottom of a dish or pan having a recess therein; 5

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the pad, partly in section; and

Fig. 3 is a pictorial view of a modified form of the pad, partly in section.

In the present instance, the pad I is shown as 10 of circular fo'rm, having a top covering 2 and a bottom covering 3, and a central square of rectangular opening 4. It is understood of course that the pad I can be made in any desired manner, as for example a plurality of layers of heat 15 insulation material or the like; such as asbestos, felt, cardboard, etc.

The hot dish or plate 5 is shown in this instance as having a recess 6 and as resting upon the pad I. In order to attach the pad I to the 20 bottom of the dish 5, use is made of a detachable vacuum producing means, such as a vacuum cup 1. This vacuum cup 1 can be made of soft rubber. It can be pressed into place as illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby holding the pad I detachably to 25 the bottom of the plate or dish. The cup 1 can be so arranged that its contacting suction surface can be raised or projected above the top surface of the pad I. In this way, the cup 1 can be pressed upwardly into the recess 6 in case there 30 is such a lrecess in the bottom of the hot dish-or plate 5. If no such recess is formed, the necessity of projecting the cup 1 is obviated.

In order to hold vacuum cup 6 yieldingly or resiliently with respect to the pad I, use is made of 35 a resilient wire 8 such as spring steel. This Wire 8 has a loop 9 arranged resiliently to press into a groove I0 formed in the extension II of the cup 1. The wire 8 can furthermore have a series of convolutions'so as to increase its flexibility. 4o The ends of the wire are formed in substantially semi-circular extensions I2 and I3, embedded in the pad I, as by being placed underneath the top covering 2. These extensions I2 and I3 form substantially a complete circle, and serve to hold 45 thestructure including the wire 8 and cup 1, resiliently in place in the center of the opening 4.

In using the pad I, it is placed against the bottom surface of the dish or plate 5. If the dish or plate has no recess, the cup 1 is merely pressed 5o against the bottom of the dish or plate to hold the pad I detachably in place. The dish or plate can vthen be transported at will, and the pad I will stay attached to the plate 5. Removal of the pad I is comparatively simple, as the cup 1 can be 55 pulled outwardly to relieve the suction. If the bottom of the plate or dish B'is provided with a recess such as 6, the cup 'I is projected upwardly above the pad I so as to contact with the surface of the recess as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The wire 8 is preferably made of spring material so that the normal position of the vacuum cup I corresponds substantially with the top surface of pad I.

The vacuum cup 'I is readily assembled with the wire 8 as by twisting thestraight portions of the wire structure 8 immediately adjacent the loop 9. 'Ihis will cause loop 9 to open and thereby be enlarged suiiiciently to permit the entry of the cup extension Il into the loop 9.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the pad I4 is made with a non-projectible vacuum cup I5. In this instance a wire or rod Il passes entirely through the boss I1 of the vacuum cup I5, and is thereby retained in the central aperture of the pad I4. The wire or rod I6 is held securely in place as by being embedded in the pad I 4.

I claim:

1. In a pad device upon which a dish or the like is adapted to rest, a body portion having an aperture, a vacuum cup for detachably connecting the pad to the bottom of the dish or the like, and yielding supporting means for the cup, joining it to the pad, comprising a wire connected to the cup and having oppositely extending convolutions, the ends of the wire being non-radial to the axis of the cup and embedded in the pad body for a considerable distance.

2. In a pad device upon which a dish or the like is adapted to rest, a body portion having an aperture, a vacuum cup for detachably connecting the pad to the bottom of the dish or the like, and yielding supporting means for the cup, joining it to the pad, comprising a Wire connected t 5 the cup and having oppositely extending convolutions, the ends of the Wire being formed to correspond in general to the edge o1' the pad body, and being attached to the pad body near its edge.

3. In a pad device upon which a dish or the 10 like is adapted to rest, a body portion having an aperture. a vacuum cup for detachably connecting the pad to the bottom of the dish or the like, and yielding supporting means for the cup, joining it to the pad, comprising a wire connected to the cup and having oppositely extending convolutions. said convolutions extending generally in a direction perpendicular. to the axis of the cup, the ends of the convolutions being attached to the pad.

4. In a. pad device upon which a dish or the like is adapted to rest, a body portion having a large central aperture, a vacuum cup for detachably connecting the pad to the bottom of the dish or the like, and resilient means for supporting the cup with respect to the pad body, said yielding means including a convoluted portion in the ap erture and extensions embedded in the pad through the wall of the aperture, said convolutions being unimbedded and in the aperture, and extending generally in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cup, and said extension; being formed to correspond in general to the edge of the pad body.

LIDA MCKITTRICK. 

